Instagram

Greta Van Fleet Receives A 1.6 Album Score From Pitchfork

In the most polarizing album review of 2018, Pitchfork described Greta Van Fleet’s debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, as “stiff, hackneyed, overly precious retro-fetishism.”

Pitchfork – “Greta Van Fleet sound like they did weed exactly once, called the cops, and tried to record a Led Zeppelin album before they arrested themselves. The poor kids from Frankenmuth, Michigan don’t even realize they’re more of an algorithmic fever dream than an actual rock band. While they’re selling out shows all over the world, somewhere in a boardroom, a half-dozen people are figuring out just how, exactly, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are supposed to fit into the SUV with the rest of the Greta Van Fleet boys on ‘Carpool Karaoke.'”

It turns out that Greta Van Fleet is more polarizing than I thought. Last Friday, Greta Van Fleet released their debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, last Friday to predominantly positive reviews. However, Pitchfork was nowehre in the congratulatory mood. In fact, the writer of the article, Jeremy D. Larson, went above and beyond to say in simplest terms, “I didn’t like the album.” This is not the first time Pitchfork has written an overly negative review about an album.

The Mumford & Sons review needs to be rewritten right now because there is no way in hell that Sigh No More is a 2.1. A 2.1! That’s a crime in all 50 states. This is why I tend to not rely on Pitchfork for album reviews.

Back to Greta Van Fleet. I’m all for giving your opinion. Hell, I’m a blogger. I give my opinion on a daily basis. I understand that it’s important to stand out and be different. However, that Greta Van Fleet review seemed to focus on creating shock value to drive the review. I’m sure their traffic was through the roof. You want to know whose traffic probably increased today as well?

Greta Van Fleet.

“Any publicity is good publicity.”

Maybe I’m naive, but I do not understand the hate for Greta Van Fleet. The biggest argument that the opposition uses is that they are unoriginal and a knockoff Led Zeppelin. I will counter with this. What’s wrong with being compared to Led Zeppelin? In an era where mumble rap and autotune dominate the streaming era, is hearing a young band that sounds like one of the greatest rock bands of all time such a horrible thing? It’s quite the opposite. It’s refreshing. I am fully aware that Greta Van Fleet sounds like Led Zeppelin and that’s not a bad thing. I’m getting a vibe that finding new ways to make fun of Greta Van Fleet is the cool thing to do. It’s like hating on Nickelback.

Listen to these songs and tell me you dislike them all. I dare you.

Folks, I’m not seeing it. Long live Greta Van Fleet. This band is here to stay.